Ranges follow the official Duolingo English Test score comparison with TOEFL iBT. The comparison is a guide, not an exact equivalence, so confirm the score your university accepts.
Duolingo to TOEFL conversion table
Based on the official Duolingo English Test (DET) comparison with TOEFL iBT total scores. The DET is reported on a 10–160 scale.
| Duolingo (DET) | TOEFL iBT (0–120) |
|---|---|
| 160 | 120 |
| 155 | 119 |
| 150 | 117–118 |
| 145 | 113–116 |
| 140 | 109–112 |
| 135 | 104–108 |
| 130 | 98–103 |
| 125 | 93–97 |
| 120 | 87–92 |
| 115 | 82–86 |
| 110 | 76–81 |
| 105 | 70–75 |
| 100 | 65–69 |
| 95 | 59–64 |
| 90 | 53–58 |
| 85 | 47–52 |
| 80 | 41–46 |
| 75 | 35–40 |
| 70 | 30–34 |
| 65 | 24–29 |
| 60 | 18–23 |
| 10–55 | 0–17 |
1. How TOEFL and Duolingo Scores Compare
The TOEFL iBT reports a total from 0 to 120, while the Duolingo English Test (DET) reports a single score from 10 to 160. To let universities read one against the other, Duolingo published an official score comparison with TOEFL, which this converter uses. Each DET score maps to a range of TOEFL totals, and each TOEFL total maps back to a DET score. For example, a DET of 130 aligns with a TOEFL total of 98 to 103.
The comparison is an alignment, not an exact equivalence. The two tests are built differently: the DET is a shorter, computer-adaptive test taken at home, while the TOEFL iBT is a longer test with fixed sections. A converted score is the best available estimate, not an official second result, so use it to see roughly where you stand and then check the exact figure each university lists.
If you only have section scores from a practice test, work out your TOEFL total first with the TOEFL score calculator, then bring the total back here to convert it to a Duolingo score.
2. Common TOEFL to Duolingo Conversions
These are the lookups people search for most. Each one comes straight from the official Duolingo comparison table above.
- TOEFL 110 sits in the 109–112 row, which maps to Duolingo 140.
- TOEFL 100 sits in the 98–103 row, which maps to Duolingo 130.
- TOEFL 90 sits in the 87–92 row, which maps to Duolingo 120.
- TOEFL 80 sits in the 76–81 row, which maps to Duolingo 110.
- TOEFL 70 sits in the 70–75 row, which maps to Duolingo 105.
- TOEFL 60 sits in the 59–64 row, which maps to Duolingo 95.
Going the other way, a Duolingo 120 aligns with TOEFL 87–92, a Duolingo 130 with TOEFL 98–103, and a Duolingo 140 with TOEFL 109–112. If your target sits one row above your current score, a short push on your weakest skill can move you across the line.
3. Why Universities Accept the Duolingo Test
Acceptance of the Duolingo English Test expanded sharply after 2020, and thousands of universities now take it alongside the TOEFL and IELTS. It appeals to applicants because it is shorter, cheaper, taken at home, and returns results within about two days. Admissions offices use the published comparison to line a DET score up against the TOEFL minimum they already know.
Acceptance is never universal, though, and some programs still ask specifically for TOEFL or IELTS. Always confirm on the program page which tests are accepted and the exact score required before you book a test.
4. TOEFL or Duolingo: Which Should You Take?
If both are accepted, weigh format, cost, and reach. The Duolingo English Test takes about an hour, costs less, and is taken at home with no test centre. The TOEFL iBT is longer and more expensive, but it is accepted almost everywhere and is the format most admissions teams know best. If your shortlist includes a program that does not accept the DET, the TOEFL is the safer single test to sit.
Whichever you choose, the score converts either way. To practise the TOEFL format end to end, take a free full TOEFL mock test and convert the score you get. For the IELTS equivalent of a TOEFL score, use the TOEFL to IELTS converter.
5. Using Your Converted Score to Apply
Once you know your Duolingo equivalent, line it up against the requirement for each course. Many universities publish a TOEFL minimum and, increasingly, a separate Duolingo minimum, so you can often submit whichever test you took. Where only a TOEFL figure is listed, the converted DET score tells you whether you are in range before you pay to send an official report.
Browse cutoffs by institution on the university TOEFL requirements pages, and read how the 2026 band and 0–120 scales fit together in the TOEFL scoring guide.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
What is a TOEFL 100 in Duolingo?▾
A TOEFL iBT total of 100 falls in the 98 to 103 range, which the official Duolingo English Test comparison aligns with a DET score of 130 on the 10 to 160 scale.
How do I convert my TOEFL score to the Duolingo English Test?▾
Find your TOEFL iBT total (0 to 120) in the official Duolingo comparison table and read across to the DET score. For example, TOEFL 76 to 81 maps to DET 110, and TOEFL 113 to 116 maps to DET 145. The converter above does the lookup for you in either direction.
What Duolingo score is equal to TOEFL 80?▾
A TOEFL iBT total of 80 falls in the 76 to 81 range, which the official Duolingo comparison aligns with a DET score of 110.
Are TOEFL and Duolingo scores officially interchangeable?▾
No. Duolingo publishes the comparison as a guide, not an exact equivalence, because the two tests measure English differently. Always confirm the specific score your target university accepts. The ranges shown here come from the official Duolingo score comparison.
What is the highest Duolingo score and its TOEFL equivalent?▾
The Duolingo English Test is scored from 10 to 160. A DET of 160 aligns with the maximum TOEFL iBT total of 120 in the official comparison, and a DET of 130 aligns with TOEFL 98 to 103.